1978

The New Year’s Eve Gala Opening Concert launched the 1979 Festival of Sydney with a dazzling array of talent on the Sydney Opera House forecourt including performances from Sherbert, John Paul Young and Johnny Farnham.

The first ever Sydney Festival (then called Festival of Sydney) ran from 31 December to 31 January 1977. It was originally conceived by the Sydney Committee, the NSW State Government and the City of Sydney with a view to attracting people into the city centre during the holiday month of January. Its program of more than 180 events ranged from high culture and large-scale community celebrations to sports competitions and basic craft.